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Thread: Match Preview: Western Force vs Auckland Blues

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    Match Preview: Western Force vs Auckland Blues

    This weekend’s game couldn’t come soon enough; anything to wipe out the memory of the game against the Sharks. There aren’t a whole lot of positives you can take out of a 27 point drubbing, a red card, and two players out injured and one suspended for the next few weeks. Regrettably, this week’s opposition isn’t going to be much easier. The Blues are sitting in 6th going into the fourth round courtesy of wins over the Crusaders and Lions. The Force have dropped to 12th with a depressing one bonus point to go with our four bye round bonus points. The Force are much better than 12th and Saturday night will be a great opportunity to prove it.

    Head to Head
    Force vs Blues games have tended to be very one-sided affairs, with the only close match being our 25-19 loss in Perth in 2009. These matches have seen some pretty depressing scorelines: 39-8 in 2006, 33-6 in 2007, and 38-17 in 2010. The good news is that the 2006 and 2010 editions were followed up by two of the most sensational games in the club’s history, resulting in a draw and a win against the Crusaders. In our past five games we have only ever been the victor once. It would be good to chalk another win in the Force column.

    How we will win it...
    The Blues are probably the most inconsistent team in the competition. One week they are pure class and the next week they are total ass. They scored themselves a win over the Lions last weekend which definitely works in our favour, though they were hardly classy in the process. They will be pretty fatigued having spent the last two weeks in the Republic. These are things we have to count on and use to our advantage, as their team is dangerously littered with All Blacks. Hopefully, they will also be taking us for granted.

    So how do we capitalize on that? With the very average form of our attack we aren’t going to be able to mix it with the Blues’ backs, so we’ve got to take it to them in the forwards. We need the kind of forward display we showed against the Crusaders last year. We need to play for territory and pressure the Blues into making mistakes in their own half. Unleash Cameron Shepherd. With speedsters Alfie Mafi and David Smith ready apply the blowtorch as chasers we can keep the Blues far away from our try-line. As the Lions found out, if you give the Blues a chance, they will take it. This also means keeping the same intensity and accuracy in defence that we have brought to the last two games to limit these chances. Two weeks ago, the Sharks’ defence pressured the Blues into handling errors and ill-discipline. We have the resources to play for territory: A monster kicker, speedy chasers, and a line-out general in Nathan Sharpe who can worry to the Blues. Keven Mealamu is very much a hot and cold thrower, and if he has another off night, it’ll definitely work in our favour.

    We can't afford to let their backline get going. In Auckland last year the Blues threatened every time the ball went wide. We need to close them down before that happens. We also can't afford to take our foot off the pedal. Back in the season opener in 2009 at Subiaco Oval we had the Blues on the ropes coming into the final quarter. A fade out in that final quarter, with some very pedestrian tackling, saw the Blues steal a 6 point win. It is a lot to ask from our guys, but I am sure they are busting for a win just as much as we are.

    Who to watch out for...
    Alfie Mafi should be making his run on debut for the Force. Mafi showed some glimpses of brilliance when he came on late in the game and it will be great to see what he can offer from the get go. I’d even be tempted to put a lazy bet on him being the first try-scorer.

    Jerome Kaino is the beast of the Blues back row. He is a model number 6: Tackles hard, powerful ball runner, good line-out option, and gets himself to a fair few rucks. Kaino will definitely need to be contained in order to overcome the Blues. I am certain Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson, and is up to the task.

    Predicted Result
    I’m afraid to say I don’t much fancy our chances. The Blues have one of the best backlines in the competition and we have lost the best menace to a backline in the competition. Backline resources are a bit thin and no doubt morale will be a little bit low. It’s hard to qualify last weekend’s performance with a man down, but before that, sloppy handling led to an easy Ndungane try. If we bring that kind of play on Saturday we’ll get absolutely blown away. I expect we will play much better than last week, but regrettably not good enough. Blues by 11.

    Teams

    Western Force
    1. Pek Cowan
    2. Ben Whittaker
    3. Tim Fairbrother
    4. Sam Wykes
    5. Nathan Sharpe
    6. Richard Brown
    7. Matt Hodgson
    8. Ben McCalman

    9. Brett Sheehan
    10. .James O’Connor
    11. David Smith
    12. Gene Fairbanks
    13. Nick Cummins
    14. Alfie Mafi
    15. Cameron Shepherd

    Reserves
    16. Nathan Charles
    17. Matt Dunning
    18. Tevita Metuisela
    19. Jono Jenkins
    20. James Stannard
    21. Matt Brandon
    22. Pat Dellit

    Blues
    1. Tony Woodcock.
    2. Keven Mealamu (Capt),
    3. Charlie Faumuina,
    4. Anthony Boric,
    5. Ali Williams,
    6. Jerome Kaino,
    7. Daniel Braid,
    8. Chris Lowrey,

    9. Toby Morland,
    10. Luke McAlister,
    11. Rene Ranger,
    12. Benson Stanley,
    13. Jared Payne,
    14. Joe Rokocoko,
    15. Isaia Toeava,

    Reserves:
    16. Tom McCartney,
    17. John Afoa,
    18. Kurtis Haiu,
    19. Luke Braid,
    20. Alby Mathewson,
    21. Stephen Brett,
    22. Sherwin Stowers.

    Printable Team Sheet Here

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    Last edited by Darren; 10-03-11 at 12:22. Reason: Added teams
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    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
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    Regrettably accurate James. It's about time the dice rolled our way

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    The tough thing for us is that we have home games against the Blues, Crusaders, Bulls and Sharks. No easy wins there. It is also a fair while before we get a home game against the Rebels or Brumbies.

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    Well...like last year we'll just have to knock off the big guys.

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    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
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    Our only win against the Blues was at North Harbour (ah the memories, or lack of!) in 2008 with the Blues just returning home from SA........we have done it before away from home, let's do it again

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    Graham forced into major changes

    NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
    March 10, 2011, 9:07 am
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    Michael Wilson/WA News ©
    Western Force coach Richard Graham has made a raft of changes for his side's Super Rugby clash against the Blues at nib Stadium on Saturday night.

    With flanker David Pocock and centre Mitch Inman both out injured for at least a month following last weekend's bruising loss to the Sharks, and youngster Rory Sidey suspended for three weeks after being red-carded in the same game, Graham has had plenty of reshuffling to do.

    Sam Wykes comes into the second row to partner Nathan Sharpe, allowing natural back-rower Ben McCalman to move to No8, while Richard Brown goes from No8 to blindside flanker and Matt Hodgson switches to openside.

    In the backs, the absence of Rebels-bound Inman means Nick Cummins goes into the centre and Alfie Mafi starts on the wing.

    The Force desperately need to chalk up a win against the Auckland side having lost their opening two games.

    But they face a stiff task with Blues hooker and skipper Keven Mealamu returning to the starting side.

    Mealamu was used as an impact player from the bench in last weekend’s 41-32 win over the Lions in Johannesburg.

    Blues coach Pat Lam has made seven changes to the side with lock Anthony Boric, openside flanker Daniel Braid and winger Rene Ranger who were also used off the bench last week, return to the run-on side.

    One of those changes is forced by injury, with No 8 Peter Saili stood down after a head knock and replaced by Chris Lowrey.

    Meanwhile, Toby Morland comes in for Alby Mathewson at halfback and Charlie Faumuina for John Afoa at tighthead prop.

    Mathewson and Afoa are both included among the reserves.

    Force: Pek Cowan, Ben Whittaker, Tim Fairbrother, Sam Wykes, Nathan Sharpe, Richard Brown, Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman, Brett Sheehan, James O'Connor, David Smith, Gene Fairbanks, Nick Cummins, Alfie Mafi, Cameron Shepherd. Reserves: Nathan Charles, Matt Dunning, Jono Jenkins, Tevita Metuisela, James Stannard, Matt Brandon, Pat Dellit.

    Blues (15-1): Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Jared Payne, Benson Stanley, Rene Ranger, Luke McAlister, Toby Morland, Chris Lowrey, Daniel Braid, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu (Capt), Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Tom McCartney, John Afoa, Kurtis Haiu, Luke Braid, Alby Mathewson, Stephen Brett, Sherwin Stowers.


    http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...major-changes/

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    Ah well, moment of truth on the Cummins debate I guess
    Hope Jono see's a bit more match time than his previous attempt!
    It would seem that either Wykes or McCalman will have to play 80 given the Bench.
    Possibly both will anyway.
    The Blues are handy team on paper, here's hoping they have one of their regular off days for us for a change.

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    and no more dodgy business with illegal ball swapping in the lineouts

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    they are a strong side, the blues, with a far more experienced bench. we'll need blinders from several players to come away with this one...

    go the FORCE!!!

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    However they're also incredibly inconsistent (not canes inconsistent, but close) and that's the thing that would be important to consider.

    If the blues hit their straps, without bam and with cullet playing out of position, we will have a tough night, but if the blues slack off (highly probable) and Sam has another good game, if cullet plays 13 like he plays 14 but with passing, we could easily steal it

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    C'mon the

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    Cue TIF with his "if's and but's" quote...

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    Is it wrong to have hope?

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    Wonder if there will be more Kiwi's in the crowd than Saffers like last week, it was like an away game, millions of em !

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  14. #14
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    Guaranteed, but don't worry, not all the kiwis will be blues supporters, actually, lots of them will be asking you the blues players names.

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    C'mon the

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    So you should take spare copies of our easy to use match day program

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